100 years ago

Very circumstantial reports were circulating in Holland about great movements of enemy forces to the Western front.

These were stated to include Austrian as well as German troops and many trainloads were said to have come through in the last few days.

The correspondent at Rotterdam regarded these reports as well founded, but the exact object of the enemy was not clear. Extensive movements of troops had taken place.

Several Germans returning from Belgium had stated that almost all the troops from Hasselt, Brea, and other towns in Limburg had been sent to the Western front.

Numerous troops had passed through Aix-la-Chapelle bound for the West, among them many Austrians.

All these movements explained the strict guarding of the Dutch-Belgian frontier, nobody had been allowed to approach within 2km of the frontiers.

Many guns had been dispatched from Germany to Belgium, and the new troops were for the most part keen young men admirably equipped.

We were certainly in the midst of a great battle in Flanders, one of the biggest of the campaign. The Allied airmen were active watching the enemies’ movements.
 

50 years ago

A free trade in cars between Britain and Europe had been proposed by Mr William Swallow, president of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Mr Swallow, who was Chairman and Managing Director of Vauxhall motors, warned that it would be increasingly difficult for Britain to surmount the tariff wall being built around Europe.

Manufacturers must be seriously concerned about this for in the field of exports Europe held a vast potential for the industry.

Pointing out that this was his own idea, Mr Swallow proposed an agreement between Britain, the European free trade association countries and those of the common market along the lines of the trading arrangements between the USA and Canada - the establishment in fact of free trade in products of the motor industry.
 

25 years ago

Thousands of East Yorkshire campaigners had flooded the Boundary Commission with letters of protest demanding the abolition of Humberside.

The commission had revealed that there had been an enormous angry response to its interim report six weeks before, which had ruled out a return to the name East Yorkshire.

Now White Rose campaigners said they would lobby Environment Secretary Chris Patten. Protesters had six weeks after the report came out to write to the commission.

The time was now up and East Yorkshire Action Group chairman Trevor Pearson said he would be advising people to write direct to the Secretary of State. “I am delighted there has been such a big reaction. The fight is by no means over,” he said.